Confession: I haven’t told my work that I am moving to London. Since I haven’t even applied for my ancestry visa yet, I feel that’s fair. But it is very, VERY hard to concentrate on my work when all I can think about is my new life in London!
I want to experience as much as I can there and not waste a day. I am going to resist my natural urge to hang out in my jammies and watch my latest Netflix obsession. How can I when there is so much in London and the UK to do!
And so, inspired by “100 days of happiness”, bucket lists, and photo-a-day type projects, I am going to create a Living in London bucket list, so I can be sure I make the most out of this adventure.
My goal is to do something new from the list each day (bonus for doing more than one!)
What’s on my list?
I’ve started with touristy type items, since I haven’t been to the UK before, there are an awful lot of to add. I’m not restricting the list to just London activities – there are many day, weekend, and maybe even longer trips I hope to take. London is a great home base for traveling to Europe. I’ve also been adding things I’ve read on websites, blogs, and twitter that other travelers, expats, and locals are doing and places they’ve been going to.
I would like to come up with at least a year’s worth of things to do. Some are momentous and require some planning, while others are little things that can be done on a whim. I’m sure my list will grow when I get to London, but at least I have a place to start.
Without further ado, my must-do-a-day list (in no particular order):
- Big Ben
- London Bridge
- Piccadilly Square
- Notting Hill
- Pose in front of a red telephone box
- Westminster Abbey
- St Pauls Cathedral
- London Underground
- Try a chip buddy butty (thanks FM 😉
- London Eye
- Platform 9 ¾
- London Open Top Bus tour
- Take a river cruise on the Thames
- Go to Beigal Bake on Brick Lane
- Harrods
- Primark
- Oxford Street
- Camden Markets
- Covent Garden
- Borough Market
- Twinning’s Tea Shop
- Have traditional afternoon tea
- Go to Lady Dinah’s Cat Cafe
- National Gallery
- British Museum
- Tate Modern
- Tate Britain Galleries
- The Guildhall
- Natural History Museum
- Visit the tombstone of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard
- Shakespeare’s Globe.
- Watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony
- Visit the 5 Historic Royal Palaces
- Worlds oldest hat shop, Lock and Co
- Kew Gardens
- Abbey Road
- Trafalgar Square
- Walk over Tower Bridge
- Painted Hall in Greenwich
- Feed the ducks, swans and squirrels in St James Park
- Portobello Road
- Soho Noses
- Visit family in Scotland
- Visit at least two countries in Europe
- Eat Yorkshire pudding in Yorkshire
- SantaCon
- Christmas pudding race in Covent Garden
- Good Sunday at Widows Son in Bow
- Circle line pub crawl on the 6th Feb (or the nearest Sat!)
- Row a boat in Regents Canal
- Prince Charles Cinema’s themed nights
- Food market in Greenwich
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Ghost bus tour
- Cocktails in the OXO tower
- Highgate Cemetery
- Sherlock Holmes pub and Restaurant
- 221b Baker Street
- Have a pint at the Cheshire Cheese on Fleet St.
- Saturday brunch at the Brockley Markets
Hmmm…. looks like I’m going to have to do more research if I’m going to do a least one thing a day for a year!
And here’s where I need your help. What sights, places, events, or restaurants would you recommend I add to my London bucket list?
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Cheers!
Lisa
Tea and Giggles 
What’s a chip buddy?
Oh, butty?
Have fun.
FM
Hahaha…it’s not my buddy? Noted and corrected. Thanks FM – saved me the embarrassment!
Oh, I shouldn’t worry, so many things will fall at your feet: I recommend adding SantaCon, the Christmas pudding race in Covent Garden, celebrating Good Sunday T the Widows Son in Bow, the Circle line pub crawl on the 6th Feb (or the nearest Sat!), row a boat in Regents Canal, see Shakespeare at the globe…
These sound great! I doubt many travel guides would have listed most of these. Thanks Emma!
Ps. I’m looking forward to more of your city food posts… I’m adding ” Eat Yorkshire pudding in Yorshire” now!
A bucket list is a great idea, before your new life in London becomes too normal and you get back into those jammie wearing netflix ways (I lived there for 8 years and totally failed to make the most of it). Here’s a few things you may want to consider adding to the list: go to one of the Prince Charles Cinema’s themed nights although it’s a cool cinema for normal nights too, food market in Greenwich, Victoria and Albert Museum (Next to the Natural History Museum), Ghost bus tour, cocktails in the OXO tower, London duck tour, and go in and watch the live debates at Parliament. Good luck!
It will be a bit of a struggle, but I Must. Resist. Jammie. Takeover. Thanks for these suggestions – I’m adding them to the list!!! Where did you live in London? Any other tips for an expat?
I lived in Greenwich, which has lovely parks, easy river access and a great vibe, but it’s a bit out of the centre. There are so many really distinct areas of London, each with their own feel, there really is somewhere for everyone. You are going to have fun exploring!
There really are a lot of unique boroughs in London! It’s a little overwhelming especially when it comes to deciding where I’d like to live. But I’m excited to explore it all!
Maybe Highgate Cemetery? There are so many great things to do in London, Time Out do a great book called something like 1000 things to do in London. You’ll never be bored!
Thanks Lisa – I’ll add that to the list and check out the book!
I was in the UK for a week recently, and had a day in London (not enough time at all!) As an avid reader and fan of Sherlock, I really enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes pub and Restaurant, it had good food and awesome memorabilia, nothing from the new show but pictures from some of the original films, manuscripts from the books and things like that. It’s worth checking out.
I also went to Platform 9 3/4 which was a lot of fun!
Oh Sherlock! I completely forgot about adding Sherlock Holmes places to my list. Thank you for reminding me!
This is a great list. Have a pint at the Cheshire Cheese on Fleet St. It’s over 300 years old. Impossible not to think about everyone else who’s drunk there before you! It’s only five minutes’ walk from your #7, St Paul’s (where you should go with a friend to the Whispering Gallery).
Great tip – I’ve added it to the list! I’m so excited for all the history I’ll be absorbing!
You should definitely try traditional pie and mash – there’s a place in Tooting and one in Petticoat Lane market which is also a great place to visit! You should also sample all the different traditional ales Britain has to offer – you’ll never anything like them anywhere else in the World! The Bree Louise and Somers Town Coffee House in Euston are both worthy of a visit but any traditional pub centrally located will suffice – ask the barman if you can sample some first! If you’re heading up to Yorkshire, I can also heartily recommend visiting the Peak District in Derbyshire, often overlooked by tourists but a stunning place with friendly people. Enjoy!
Oh yes, I will DEFINITELY be trying a traditional pie and mash, and ales! Thanks for these great suggestions – adding them all to my bucket list!
You’ve got a great, rounded out list here! I’d add the Brockley Markets in as well, great place for Saturday brunch and not too far to walk from Lewisham DLR station.
Thanks for the suggestion – added it to the list! Love a good brunch spot and bonus points if it’s in a new area to explore.
I am so incredibly jealous that you are moving to London! I lived there for 6 months while studying abroad and I ache to go back! What I would recommend to add your already impressive list is:
– (Window) Shopping: Selfridges (the original department store in London), Liberty, and all the shops along Regent’s Street (between Oxford Street and Leicester Square), Fortnum and Masons (the tea provider for the royal family. The store is like a huge lovely pantry)
– Food: Sunday Roast, dim sum in Chinatown, Dishoom Bombay Cafe in Soho (affordable, beautiful, and delicious), the Duck and Waffle (located on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower)
– Entertainment: WEST END SHOWS! Ballet, Opera, Harry Potter Studio Tour, etc.
– Spots: King’s Cross Station, St. Pancreas Hotel (right next door. “Wannabe” from the Spice Girls was filmed there, as well as Downton Abbey), walk around the Financial District/Leadenhall Market (it’s like walking through Diagon Alley)
– Feeling Fancy: attend an evening art gallery show at Whitechapel, dine at one of the many Michelin-rated restaurants
I hope all goes well with your transition to London! I know that you will never be bored!
Wow! Thank you for this awesome list of suggestions! I’m adding them ALL to my bucket list. Where did you live in London?
Definitely find the Hashers. Not for the squeamish, but you will meet some great people. Bon voyage!
Thanks! I have actually participated in a few Hasher runs/events when I was living in West Africa and Nepal. Excited to hear that there are groups in the UK too!
firstly, please look at my top tips for london post for some inspo – http://thewanderlusthasgotme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/what-to-see-in-london.html – but i’ve recently seen you can do afternoon tea on a route master bus which goes round the sights – so you can check 4 or 5 of your landmarks off while eating cake!! 🙂
Thank you for the tips! This tea tour bus sounds perfect to me 🍰! I’m planning to do your “what to see in London” weekend itinerary in the spring!
Congratulations on your Visa. I’m from Wales in the UK but I was stupidly excited to move to London. I can also sympathies with having to tell the family you’re leaving. I’m living in Korea now and my family has really come around to the idea. Skype is the greatest invention of all time.
When I was in London I loved the Covent Garden flower market. You have to go early but it’s worth it. I wrote a silly post about things here… http://smallandtalltravel.com/5-things-to-see-in-london/
GOOD LUCK and can’t wait to read about your adventures 😀